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stow away

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To put something somewhere safe and out of the way, or to secretly hide in a ship or plane to get a free ride.

Literal meaning: To stow (pack/store) something by putting it away — transparent compound.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To store or pack something carefully in a space, especially on a boat, aircraft, or in a vehicle.

"Please stow your carry-on luggage in the overhead compartment before takeoff."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To hide on a ship, aircraft, or vehicle in order to travel secretly without paying.

"The teenager had stowed away on a cargo ship, hoping to reach a new country."

Grammar: inseparable
3 C1 idiomatic informal

(Informal) To eat or drink a large amount.

"He can really stow away a meal after a long day of hiking."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The storage sense is common in sailing, aviation, and travel. The 'secret passenger' sense is the source of the noun 'stowaway'. Both senses are widely understood internationally.

Commonly used with

luggage gear equipment cargo ship plane food

Forms

Base
stow away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stows away
he/she/it
Past simple
stowed away
yesterday
Past participle
stowed away
have + pp
-ing form
stowing away
continuous

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Synonyms

put away tuck away pack away store away hide away squirrel away

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